‘WWE Elimination Chamber 2026’ PLE Review
Welcome to this review of WWE’s Elimination Chamber PLE, right here on Nerdly. Once again, as with every EC event, we’ve got a card that will directly affect this year’s Wrestlemania, so let’s get into it!
Match #1: Women’s Elimination Chamber Match – Winner: Rhea Ripley
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James of SmackDown kicked off the bout, matching their supreme athleticism with a desperate desire to headline WrestleMania 42. Asuka entered the match next, however she was met with a preemptive strike from James, but it wasn’t long before The Empress of Tomorrow took control. Alexa Bliss checked in as the fourth competitor, dropping the entire field with her chaotic strikes and unorthodox style of offense. Ripley entered shortly after Stratton was catapulted into a chamber pod, and the former Women’s World Champion cleaned house thanks to a series of headbutts, but she was unable to hit Bliss with a Riptide. A Twisted Bliss from atop a chamber pod knocked down the four Superstars, but Bliss’ attempt to win the match was upended by Asuka’s mist, allowing James to roll her up and eliminate her. Rodriguez entered at the sixth and final spot, destroying everyone in her wake, even tossing Stratton into the steel wall of the structure. In a shocking moment, Rodriguez hit James with a huge running powerslam through the chamber pod, then followed up with a Tejana Bomb on Asuka, stacking up both Superstars, pinning them at the same time. Ripley and Stratton were forced to team up to eradicate Rodriguez, hitting her with an avalanche cannonball and a picture-perfect moonsault to eliminate the The Judgment Day powerhouse. The final two Superstars battled to a near stalemate, but in the end, Ripley nailed a Riptide on Tiffy to earn a WWE Women’s Championship Match against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Women’s Intercontinental Championship – AJ Lee def. Becky Lynch
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
AJ Lee captured the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in epic fashion as she knocked off Becky Lynch at Elimination Chamber in Chicago. The match began as a technical affair, with both Superstars showing off their mat skills, and Lee locking in an impressive submission, frustrating the champion. Lynch finally gained the upper hand and goaded the raucous United Center crowd, but Lee refused to relent as she nearly beat the champion with a bulldog, Tornado DDT and a Shining Wizard. The Man became increasingly desperate and undid the top turnbuckle, exposing the steel underneath, but it was the official who was subsequently accidentally sent into it, followed up by a seemingly inadvertent kick from Lynch. With the official down, Lee locked in a Black Widow and had Lynch tapping, but there was no official to ring the bell. The two rivals proceeded to brawl across the ringside area. Lynch even smashed Lee onto a steel chair and hit a Man-handle Slam, but it wasn’t enough to retain her title. The veteran savvy of Lee paid off as she baited Lynch into diving onto the exposed turnbuckle before locking in another Black Widow to secure the win and her first title since 2014.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: World Heavyweight Championship – CM Punk def. Finn Bálor
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk retained his title in his hometown of Chicago, vanquishing Finn Bálor in a hotly contested matchup. The agile Bálor showed that he was ready for a fight as he traded blows with the champion, later knocking him off the top rope to a cascade of boos. Bálor was cruising, and it looked like only a matter of time before he captured the title, until the crowd rallied behind Punk and buoyed him with a sudden burst of energy. The frustration began to build for both competitors as neither could find the winning move, with Punk’s GTS swiftly countered into a near-fall. Bálor’s stamina was on full display as he consistently beat Punk to his feet, but not even a devastating Coup De Grace could beat Punk. The champion rallied and managed to hit a GTS, but Bálor wisely rolled out of the ring, only for Punk to fall victim to a Sling Blade and a Shotgun Dropkick through the barricade. The ensuing Coup De Grace attempt by Bálor was countered into a sensational Sharpshooter, but the challenger scratched and clawed his way to the ropes in order to break the hold. With one last burst of effort, Punk mustered Bálor up for a match-ending GTS, sending the hometown crowd into another frenzy.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Men’s Elimination Chamber Match – Winner: Randy Orton
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Cody Rhodes and Je’Von Evans started the match, and the newcomer showed out with his unbelievable athleticism matched only by his exuberant personality. Trick Williams entered at No. 3 and electrified the crowd by taking out The Young OG before turning his attention to The American Nightmare. Logan Paul entered next, but was immediately jumped by all three of his competitors, culminating in them sending him face-first into the chamber pod. LA Knight continued the assault on The Maverick, even tossing him from atop a chamber pod before hitting Evans with a BFT. Orton entered the fray last, taking out the entire field of Superstars, allowing The Young OG to hit a fantastic Frog Splash. However, Paul was laying in wait and hit a Paulverizer to eliminate Evans. Knight tweaked his knee attempting an Elbow Drop, allowing Paul to hit him with a blow up before rolling him up for the elimination. Just moments later, Rhodes nailed Williams with a Cross Rhodes, but The Maverick tossed him aside in order to secure his third elimination. Suddenly, a masked man appeared and attempted to gain entry into the chamber, but was thwarted by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce. Shockingly, a second masked man found his way inside the structure. A Superkick and a Stomp to Paul allowed Rhodes to eliminate The Vision’s star, allowing the masked man to reveal himself as none other than Seth Rollins. Amid all of the chaos, Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre broke into the chamber and hit Rhodes with the title. Rhodes and Orton took out The Scottish Warrior, but Orton nailed Rhodes with a RKO to win the epic match.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Elimination Chamber is always positioned as the final, violent pivot on the road to WrestleMania, and this year’s event certainly had moments that felt big, even if the overall show never quite reached classic status. The Women’s Chamber was the standout of the night, delivering chaos, spectacle and a genuinely star-making performance from Rhea Ripley. The multi-person spots were inventive (Raquel Rodriguez stacking eliminations was a highlight), and Ripley punching her ticket to face Jade Cargill feels like a marquee Mania direction. AJ Lee’s title win over Becky Lynch leaned heavily into nostalgia and crowd energy, even if the overbooked chaos dulled the edge slightly. Meanwhile, CM Punk retaining in Chicago was predictable but undeniably effective, buoyed by a molten hometown crowd. The Men’s Chamber had star power and storyline movement – especially with the Rollins reveal and Orton’s opportunistic RKO finish – but like much of the card, it felt more functional than unforgettable. A solid, storyline-heavy premium live event that sets the stage well… but didn’t quite steal the show.
